Supporting Someone With Cancer
Supporting Someone With Cancer
When someone you love has cancer, you want to help but may not know how. This guide offers gentle, practical ways to show up — for them and for yourself — through a difficult time.
Practical and emotional ways to help, what to say (and avoid), supporting without taking over, caring for your own wellbeing, and finding caregiver support.
What's inside
- →Practical help — what truly helps
- →What to say — and what to avoid
- →Being present — listening well
- →Without taking over — respecting wishes
- →Caring for you — the carer matters
- →Caregiver support — you're not alone
For educational purposes only
This guide offers educational and supportive information to help you navigate cancer care and find support — it is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not a substitute for your oncology team. It does not diagnose, treat, or cure cancer, and makes no promises about outcomes; all decisions about your diagnosis and treatment should be made with your doctors. Contact your care team about new or worsening symptoms, and seek urgent care for severe problems such as a high fever during treatment, difficulty breathing, or uncontrolled bleeding. You don't have to carry this alone — if you're struggling emotionally, reach out to your team or a counsellor, and in crisis call or text 988; in an emergency, call 911.